Apparatus for coating wire



Nov. 12, 1957 Filed July 26, 1954 ILLT1 L T0 REEL FROM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 37 lol 4 l O FI D FROM- REEL INVENTOR. .Mnes A. O CONNOR BY 147' OR 6V5 Nov. 12, 1957 J. A. O'CONNOR APPARATUS FOR comma WIRE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1954 United States Pate P" 2,812,741 APPARATUS FOR COATING WTRE James A. OConnor, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to Essex Wire Corporation This invention relates to -a method and apparatus for coating wire, as for example with an enamel or varnish and has for its object the provision of improved coating apparatus for applying multi-layers of coating. H The invention provides multiple applicators arranged in a stacked manner, i. e., one above the other, to accommodate vertically moving wire which after leaving the applicators passes to vertical drying ovens. The applicators are severally constructed of moveable coating applying fingers which can be moved into 'or "out of engagement with the vertically moving wire. The several applicators can be filled with different coating materials and as a result a variety of materials and layer combinations can be obtained.

The invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of wire coating and drying apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the wire coating and drying apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an exploded front elevation of an applicator.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of an applicator taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 4-4, partially in section.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a complete apparatus for applying a coating to a wire strand. Wire strand is drawn from a payoff reel (not shown) and passes to the roller 11, over pulley 12. The stand 10 thereafter passes through an enamel applying finger 13 of the applicator 14. The sizing die removes excess coating and insures the application of a smooth, even, concentric coating. The strand of wire is shownby-passing applicator 16 and passing into the drying oven 18.

Referring to Fig. 2, it can be noted how a strand initially enters a drying oven from roller 11 and passes over a corresponding roller 19 at the top of the oven. The strand is then progressively threaded around the rollers proceeding from left to right to exit end 21. Thus, applicator finger 13 of applicator 14 is initially engaged with the strand, and in the adjacent following pass, applicator finger 31 of the upper applicator 16 is engaged with the strand. Succeeding alternate layers or other layer combinations of the coating materials in applicators 14 and 16 can, therefore, be obtained.

It is to be understood that any number of applicators can be used dependent upon the variety of coatings to be applied. It is to be understood that the rollers 11 and 19 can be a collection of sheaves or the like. Similarly, the applicator fingers are normally abutting, as in Fig. 3, but are here shown separated for purposes of clarity.

The baked and enameled strand 10, in Fig. 1, exits at the top of the oven and is passed back to the oven by means of the roller 19. The operation is repeated until the required number of coating layers are applied. The finished wire exits as in Fig. 2 to a take-up reel, not shown.

2,812,741 Patented u ta. rest:

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Referring now to Fig. 3, the structureof dual applicators is shown-in exploded form. In thisviewyfive strand segments *ofstrand 210 are "shown entering the "dual 'a'ppli cators and it "can be clearly seen :how the strand is engaged by the 'difierent applicator-fingers. Progressing from right to left, in Fig. 3, the strand lofiis coated' initiallytwith the coating material contained in finger 13. The strand 'bl'y-passes the applicator finger 17 immediately above and entersthe drying-oven. (D n tlfe nextpass, progressing to the right, the strand by-pa'sses the applicator finger 2-3 which contains thesame coating 'coinpoundqas finger 13 and is coated with the compound contained in finger 31. The strand 10 subsequently passesthrough fingers 24, 33, 26, bypassing. fingers 3 2, 25, and 34. Additional sizing dies 35, 2'8, 36, and 29 are provided "to remove "excess coating material. Thus, the invention provides complete flexibility with respect to layering and as :many diiferent compounds "can be used as desired by employing additional applicators.

Fig. 4 illustrates" the passage "of a strand through an applicator finger and the delivery of coating material to the finger. "l he applicatorfin'gers are mounted on feed :pipe 37. The ringers rotate, on the'pipe 5. 7 within the limits lperinitte'd bythe backer pretest; and the binding action of the :finger against the easier pla te at 39; The strand 10 passes through the recess 40 and is coated in the cavity 41. Clearance is provided as at 40 and 43 to permit the applicator to move into or out of coating engagement with the wire. In the retracted position, the applicator finger occupies the position illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4.

In order to maintain coating characteristics and to equalize coating conditions, it is common practice to use a recirculating system. Thus, feed pipe 37 and outlet pipe 45, also illustrated in Fig. 2, are connected to a common supply tank, not shown. Coating material is supplied, as aforesaid, to feed pipe 37. Excess coating material drains into tank 44 and out of tank 44 through outlet pipe 45. Feed pipe 37 has feed holes located adjacent the fingers as at 46 and coating material passes through this hole to the duct 47 and into the coating cavity 41. It is to be noted that when the applicator finger is retracted the feed hole 46 and duct 47 move out of alinement so that the supply of coating material to the coating cavity is cut-01f. Wire strand 10 passes through cavity 41, as previously described, and is coated. Due to the velocity of the wire and consistency of the coating material, the coating material does not ordinarily pass through the recess 40. Excess coating compound drains from the back of the applicator into the tank 44 where outlet pipe 45 returns the excess material to the supply tank.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for applying coating material to vertically moving wire strands consisting of a plurality of coating material inlet tubes in spaced vertical relation, applicator fingers mounted on said tubes, said applicator fingers further characterized by a coating chamber in communication with said coating inlet tube and inlet and outlet openings to permit the ingress and egress of a wire strand from said chamber, and means to rotate said fingers on said tubes to permit the withdrawal of said finger from coating engagement with a wire strand.

2. A device according to claim 1 further characterized in that communication between a coating chamber and a coating inlet tube is efiected through a duct in an applicator finger connecting said coating chamber to a feed hole in said coating inlet tube, said duct being located relative to said feed hole such that upon rotation of said finger on said tube to permit withdrawal of said finger from coating engagement with a wire strand, said feed hole and duct move out of alinement to interrupt the flow of coating material into said coating chamber from said coating inlet tube.

3. A device for applying coating material to vertically moving wire strands consisting of a plurality of coating materialinlet tubes in spaced vertical relation, applicator fingers mounted 'on said tubes, said applicator fingers further characterized by two mating half sections forming a coating chamber in communication with said inlet tube and inlet and outlet openings'to permit the ingress and egress of a,' wire .stra'nd from said chamber, said half sections facilitating the threading of wire through the applicator finger; and means to rotate said fingers on said tubes to permit the withdrawalof said finger from coating engagement with a wire strand.

4. An applicator for applying coating material to wire consisting. of a 'coating material inlet tube, applicator fingers mounted on said tube, said applicator fingers further characterized bya coating chamber in communicating engagement with said coating inlet tube and inlet and outlet openings to permit the ingress and egress of a wire strand from said coating chamber, and means to rotate said fingers on said tubes to permit the withdrawal of said fingers from coating engagement with a wire strand. 7

5. An applicator according to claim 4 further characterized in that communication between a coating chamber and a coating inlet tube is effected through a duct in an applicator finger connecting said coating chamber to a feed hole in said coating inlet tube, said duct being located relative to said feed holes such that upon rotation of said finger from coating engagement with a wire strand, said feed hole and duct move out of alinement to interrupt the flow of coating material into said coating chamber from said coating inlet tube.

6. An applicator for applying coating material to wire consisting of a coating material inlet tube, applicator fingers mounted on said tube, said applicator fingers further characterized by two mating half sections forming a coating chamber in communicating engagement with said coating inlet tube and inlet and outlet openings to permit the ingress and egress of a Wire strand from said coating chamber, said half sections facilitating the threading of wire through the applicator fingers, and means to rotate said fingers on said tubes to permit the withdrawal of said fingers from coating engagement with a wire strand.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 116,470 Melvin June 27, 1871 1,994,802 Adams Mar. 19, 1935 2,238,687 Flynn Apr. 15, 1941 2,269,150 Flynn Jan. 6, 1942 2,438,135 Swartz Mar. 23, 1948 2,659,343 Kucher Nov. 17, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 498,196 France Dec. 31, 1919 

